Apparatus and method for the production of roller blinds

#The present invention relates to a new apparatus for the production of roller blinds and to a method of producing roller blinds employing the apparatus.

#Roller blinds are well known and generally comprise a tube or cylinder around which a body of fabric is wound. The tube carrying the fabric is mounted in a window casement so that the tube can rotate, generally against a spring bias, to unroll the fabric and so cover the window.

#Mounting of the fabric on the roller blind tube during manufacture presents a number of problems. Clearly a roller blind must be manufactured in a size which corresponds to the size of the window in which the blind is to be mounted. This in turn means that the fabric must be cut to size in terms of both of its length and its width before it can be mounted on the roller blind tube. After the fabric has been cut to size, it must be mounted in the correct orientation on the roller blind tube. Conventionally, the fabric is cut on a large cutting table which must be at least as large as the largest piece of fabric to be used in blind manufacture when laid out flat. Each side of the fabric is cut individually, for example using a guillotine-type roller cutter and great care and attention is required to ensure that the sides are cut straight and that adjacent sides are perpendicular (and opposite sides are parallel) so that a perfectly rectangular piece of fabric is formed. This is time consuming and subject to inaccuracies.

#For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the following drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of the apparatus according to the invention;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus according to the invention showing initial stages of feeding the fabric through the apparatus;

#Referring now to the drawings, the apparatus (10) comprises fabric holding means (1) to support a body of fabric (3a) such as a roll of fabric prior to cutting to form a blind, a support surface (5) over which the web of fabric (3) passes in use, drive means (7) for moving the web of fabric (3) through the apparatus (10) and mounting means (9a, 9b) for a roller blind tube (11) onto which tube (11) the web of fabric (3) is rolled in order to form the roller blind. As the web of fabric (3) passes through the apparatus (10), one or more width cutting means (13a, 13b) are provided to cut the web of fabric (3) to a desired width. Further means (15) are preferably provided to cut, or assist in cutting, the leading and/or trailing ends of the fabric (3), so that the fabric is cut to a desired length. To ensure that the web of fabric (3) is aligned in the desired orientation in the apparatus, alignment means (17a, 17b) are provided.

#The web of fabric (3) may initially be folded or may be in the form of a bolt or roll. The fabric holding means (1) may take any suitable form, provided that the web of fabric (3) may be fed from said holding means without undue restriction. A simple fabric holding cradle (1) as illustrated in FIG. 1 is normally sufficient.

#From the fabric holding means (1), the web of fabric (3) passes over the support surface (5) in which a cutting guide (15) may be disposed, as will be described below. From the support surface (5), the web of fabric (3) passes on to fabric drive means (7) such as, for example, a pair of pinch rollers, which assist in moving the web of fabric (3) through the apparatus. The support surface (5) includes alignment means (17a) to ensure that the web of fabric (3) is correctly aligned in the apparatus (10), and that the alignment is maintained as the web of fabric (3) continues to pass through the apparatus (10). The alignment means (17a) preferably comprise a formation disposed at one side of the support surface (5), which formation includes a generally upright planar surface. The web of fabric (3) should pass through the apparatus (10) of the invention in a first direction indicated generally by arrow A and the plane of said generally upright planar surface includes at least a first component which is disposed exactly parallel to said first direction. Thus, alignment of the web of fabric (3) is achieved by ensuring that the side edge of the fabric (3) maintains a running contact with the generally upright planar surface. Preferably, the upright planar surface will be vertical, but some deviation from vertical is acceptable.